Carl W. Kenney II is an award winning columnist and novelist. He is committed to engaging readers into a meaningful discussion related to matters that impact faith and society. He grapples with pondering the impact faith has on public space while seeking to understand how public space both hinders and enhances the walk of faith.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

A black woman living in a white body: Confronting racial identity in the context of black female rage

Rachel A.
Dolezai’s interview with Matt Lauer of NBC failed to expose more than we
already knew.

People tuned
in to hear more about Dolezai’s deception.Why does she prefer being black? What was her motivation behind it all?I mean, how does it feel being a black woman
trapped in a white body?

“When did you
start deceiving people,” Lauer asked. It was a point Dolezal refused to concede.

“I do take
exception to that, because it’s a little more complex than me identifying as
black, or answering a question of, ‘Are you black or white?’” she said.

In her mind
she is a black woman.

Dolezai isn’t
the first white person to identify as black.Teena Marie, called the Ivory Queen of Soul, often spoke of her
connection with black people. Numerous white people have been given the coveted
black card due to their swag and willingness to fight for causes important to
blacks.

Teena Marie
had the groove of a black woman. It’s not uncommon to hear a person say, “That
white woman was black”.

What makes
Dolezai different is her inability to trust the black community.It’s her lack of trust that has stirred the
ire among many blacks.What makes this
story news is not her role as President of the local branch of the NAACP.That’s not unusual.The organizations founders included white
people.

This story is
about the deception.Black people are
angry because she lied.But there’s more
to it than Dolezai’s pretending to be black.

Black people
are angry because she got away with it.

She was able
to convince black people she’s black.That’s
hard to accept among those who take great pride in their history and culture. As
much as a white person may want to be black, black people take exception when a
white person believes they’re black.It’s
one thing to act the part; it’s another believing you’ve done enough to be
black. Black people are willing to give that race card, but you have to wait
for the community’s endorsement.

She fooled
black people.

No she didn’t.
Oh, yes she did.

She did it with
her hair and black swag.Note the rage
of many black women.Could it be that
Dolezai has crossed a line that troubles black women?

What happens
when white women take on the persona of black women?

It’s one
thing to pretend to be black. Again, that happens all the time.It’s understood, and, for the most part,
forgiven. Black women can accept being envied to the extent that those of
another race attempt to mimic their looks and ways.

They understand
the cultural appropriation that shows up among white women.Historically, white women have attempted to
replicate the images of blackness.From thicker
lips, Bo Derek’s cornrows, tanning to butt injections, there is something about
the beauty of blackness that white women desire.

You can’t
hate a white woman for embracing the beauty and culture of black women.Their swag is the envy of the world.There’s no problem with taking a bit to add
to one’s personal flava.Do you.Have fun with that.Black women may not like it, but, from what I’m
told, they do understand.

Dolezai took
it a step to far.She not only borrowed
parts of black identity, she claimed it as her own.In doing so she fooled black men and women.

She perfected
being black and that’s crossing the line.

You can
borrow pieces of black identity, but you can’t claim the right to be called
black devoid of the permission from those who have carried the burden of
blackness. When you do that, you’ve opened the door to getting your ass
whipped.

This is a story
about racial identity.Dolezai’s story
helps us filter the emotions of those who prefer connection to another
race.Does this help us understand black
people who fight to strip themselves from all things labeled black?Black people understand the history of
passing and the benefits that come with siding with those willing to share some
of the crumbs of white privilege. We get that.

This is
new.Although black people have
witnessed white people steal parts of black culture and claim it as their own,
this is a rare example of a white person able to fool black people into thinking
they are black.

Crossing that
line is dangerous due to the persisting tension between white and black
women.More than a lie, this story is
about feelings black women carry related to white women dating black men.It is about black women feeling disregarded
by white women.

Consider the
feelings carried by black woman. Feelings like, does this white woman believe
she can out black a black woman and what happens when white woman can fool
black men into believing they are black to be considered black?

Dolezai’s
deception is affixed to the complicated matter of black female identity. It’s
one of the ongoing issues carried over from slavery.As black women grapple to overcome the discord
of dark skin versus light skin, Dolezai obscures potential healing by being a
white woman who identifies with being black.

Is there
enough room within the convoluted dialogue regarding black female racial
identity to introduce a white woman’s issues with racial identity?

I understand
and appreciate Dolezai’s struggle with her racial identity.

There’s a lot
of work to be done before black women can have this conversation.

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Carl W. Kenney II

Carl was named the best serious columnist of 2011 by the North Carolina Press Association for his work with the News & Observer's community paper The Durham News and in 2016 by the Missouri Press Association for his columns in the Columbia Missourian. He is a columnist with the News & Observer and Co-Executive Producer of "God of the Oppressed" an upcoming documentary film on black liberation theology. He is a former Adjunct Professor at the University of Missouri - School of Journalism and Adjunct Instructor at Duke University, the Center for Documentary Studies. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He furthered his education at Duke University and attained a Master of Divinity. He was named a Fellow in Pastoral Leadership Development at the Princeton Theological Seminary on May 14, 2005. He is a freelance writer with his commentary appearing in The Washington Post, Religious News Services,The Independent Weekly and The Durham Herald-Sun. Carl is the author of two novels: “Preacha’ Man” and the sequel “Backslide”.
He has led congregations in Missouri and North Carolina